346 
[Assembly 
tiful expanse of water, of some 10 or 12 miles in extent, with a coast 
not less than 40. A strait, of about 30 feet descent, connects this with 
Round lake, which is three miles in diameter. The waters are then 
discharged through a strait of 3 miles in length and about 7 feet 
fall, into lower Saranac lake, which is 7 miles long and 3 or 4 broad. 
The distance, reckoned from the Indian carrying place, to the mouth 
of Lower lake, is about 16 miles, and the descent 40 feet, embracing 
only two portages, one of 80 and the other 20 rods in length. Con- 
tinuing 20 miles northeasterly down the river, to Forbs', we encoun- 
ter but three interruptions to the navigation, embracing an aggregate of 
portage of less than three miles, and a descent probably not to exceed 
60 or 80 feet. The Saranac river, therefore, from Forbs', a point se- 
ven or eight miles north east of Whiteface mountain, near the north 
line of Essex county, to the head of upper Saranac lake, a distance 
of about 40 miles, furnishes a line of batteaux navigation, interrupted 
by an aggregate of portage of less than three miles and a half, and an 
elevation to be surmounted by locks or planes, not much exceeding 100 
feet. The extent of country immediately benefited by this line, in- 
cluding the coasts of the lakes, and some lateral branches, can fall ht- 
tle short of 90 miles. 
The Racket river, after communicating with Ragged lake, on the 
east of Racket lake, and with Forked lake on the north, pursues a 
northeasterly course through Long lake, and thence northwesterly to 
Tupper's lake. This embraces a distance of 70 or 80 miles, and a 
difference of level of 231 feet, of which probably not more than 175 
would be found necessary to be surmounted by artificial contrivances. 
Four portages, equal in extent to about two miles, are the only exist- 
ing impediments to a continuous passage for boats. The extent of 
country immediately benefited by this line, taking into account the 
coasts of the larger lakes, is probably not less than 200 miles. A chain 
of ponds likewise extends, as I am informed, and some of which I ob- 
served from the summit of Owlshead, from near the head of Long 
lake, in a northerly direction, to Tupper's lake. 
The close approximation of [upper Saranac lake to the navigable 
waters of the Racket, suggests a ready means of connecting these two 
systems of waters. The distance between them is only one mile, the 
land but little elevated above the surface of the former and the diffe- 
rence of level only between 20 and 30 feet. 
